Tinto y Blanco » Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon

Bodegas Mauro 2006

Dave Worthington — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:21:38 +0000

There is a great little vinoteca in San Sebastian called Solbes (Calle de Aldamar, 4, just accross the road from the Bretxia market. A full range of smallgoods and cheeses from all over Spain and France, great olive oil, great preserved produce and all kinds of cider, beer, spirits and wine. A well selected range inexpensive wines and a room full of the best stuff from Spain and Portugal with a smattering of France and Italy. All at very reasonable prices. Whenever I’m in Spain, I try to get here and stock up on whatever takes my fancy. Like a bottle of Mauro 2006. I bought this one at Boccaccio tho…I’ve also had a couple of bottles of the 2004 lately, it’s really on song at the moment.

Opens up with loads of wild bramble and herbs, with some red and black cherries smashed in with some wild violets. Wild and rustic with character and real appeal. It needs plenty of air to open up, but once it does, it’s packed full of smooth long tannins, a good line of acid straight down the centre and excellent length. Plums, cherries and a little choc in the mouth, spice and herbs. Give it a year or two to develop and dig in. 92+ Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars RRP: $80 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.bodegasmauro.com

Telmo Rodriguez Pegaso Garnacha 2005

Dave Worthington — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:33:05 +0000

Posting has been slow, but I’m working on the backlog now that work is fairly quiet. It’s that great time of year where you can plan for the next 12 months, take it easy and enjoy a few glasses of something nice. The 2005 vintage of Pegaso sit somewhere in between the 2003 and 2005. It has the rich fruit and character of the 03 with the subtlety and herbal aspects of the 2004. Both of these previous vintages were a bit polarising, people either preferredthe 03 or 04 (myself included, I liked the 03). This 2005 hits the mark in my book, but do give it a fair decant before tucking in.

I’m a bit over Priorat/Monsant garnacha at the moment (although I do have a bottle in the tasting pile): too expensive, too extracted, too hyped. I’m sure I’ll get over it soon, but it seems that the every time I buy or drink a wine from Prioratlately, I’m just a little underwhelmed. I find that I get much better bang for my buck in the Douro if I’m looking for something shisty. Anyway, this is a ripping wine that has filled the vacuum perfectly.

The nose starts off with some medicinal herbs, crush rock, raspberry and bright cherry and some pink musk stick. A bit of raspberry leaf and a touch of chocolate creeps in with more air. Medium bodied with light tannins, minerally acid and a touch of richness on the palate. The fruit is concentrated but well balanced. Meaty notes with more of that bright cherry and raspberry, with some spice and gentle wood notes. Some darck chocolate notes apear after a while, as does some sage. While it’s not cheap, it’s fine drinking for this time of year. Plus it’ll do a couple of years in the cellar. Easy. 92 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $65 Closure: Conventional Cork

Other Vintages: 2003, 2004

Bodegas Finca Vaqueros I’Corus ‘Vendimia Seleccionada’ 2003

Dave Worthington — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:00:05 +0000

I reviewed the two entry level wines from this bodega a month or two ago and this is the big daddy of the range.Older vines (80 years old) and some special oak treatment (16 months in a mix of French and American oak) give this more ompphh for long term aging. I think anyone would have a hard time picking this from any of the Mauro wines.

Wild and thrilling is a good summary for this wine. It starts of with a nose of brambly cherry, mulberry and plum, adding some vanilla bean and mocha with some barnyard undertones. Supple with fine edges, quite charming and rustic tannins that build to give impressive texture. Its juby and meaty in the mouth with more cherry and black jelly beans, a touch of blackberry and black currant as well as some earthy herbs. I really enjoy drinking these wines, highly enjoyable and drinkable. You could keep it for a while, but I’d have trouble keeping my hands off them. 92 Pts.

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $50 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.bodegasfincavaqueros.com

Telmo Rodriguez Pegaso Garnacha 2003

Dave Worthington — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 22:57:57 +0000

For some reason I haven't seen this wine around town, its kind of been under the radar. More likely I'm just not going to the right places. Anyway, its a cracking wine, one of the best garnarchas I've seen. Pegaso is produced from an old vineyard, high in the hills of Castille near a little town called Brinas. The vineyard is full of slate and sits at 1000 meters above sea level.

A vibrant ruby red in the glass, showing aromas of sweet raspberry and cherry, subtle spicy oak, winter green herbs, and earth. Really refined in the mouth, rich and silky with great balance. On the palate the wine shows raspberry and cherry fruit jubes with pepper and spice, woody herbs and roasted meats. Ripe fruit, savory finish and great balance make this great drinking right now. You could put it away, but I'd drink now. 92 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $65 Closure: Conventional Cork

Marques de Riscal 1860 2004

Dave Worthington — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:08:49 +0000

Marques de Riscal have branched out from their home base in Rioja with a couple of projects, this one just outside of DO Toro and a white wine project in DO Rueda. I haven't tried any of the whites as yet, but this one is quite interesting.

Made from Tinto de Toro, the wine sees 6 months in American oak. It was more integrated and approachable on the second night, so give it some time in a decanter. Like most of the wines from this area, the alcohol is into the 14% range.

Very deep red in colour with aromas of blackberry with some smoke and shot of toasty oak. Meaty, concentrated dark berry fruit in the mouth, with a bit of woody herbs like sage and thyme in the background. There was a truck load of raspy tannins on the first night, they had calmed a fair bit on the second night. Acid is not a primary feature here, but the is a bit to keep things moving. A moderate finish with more some subtle oak influences. A good example of wine from this area, well worth try with a rustic meat dish. 87 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars Price: $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.marquesderiscal.com